Constantine II of Scotland facts for kids

Constantine II (born no later than 879; died 952) was an early King of Scotland. Back then, Scotland was known by its Gaelic name, Alba. The Kingdom of Alba was located in what is now modern-day Scotland.

Constantine's kingdom was mainly around the River Tay. It stretched south to the River Forth and north towards the Moray Firth. His grandfather, Kenneth MacAlpin, was the first king in their family. But Kenneth was called "king of the Picts," not "king of Alba." The change in title, from king of the Picts to king of Alba, happened during Constantine's time. This shows how the kingdom was changing and growing.

Constantine's time as king, like those before him, was often busy because of Vikings in the British Isles. These were especially the "grandsons of Ímar," a powerful Viking family. During his rule, the kings of southern England (from Wessex and Mercia) started to expand their power north. At first, they were allies with Constantine against the Vikings. But in 934, King Æthelstan of England invaded Scotland. He didn't face any big battles and left by September.

Three years later, in 937, Constantine teamed up with Olaf Guthfrithson, the King of Dublin, and Owain ap Dyfnwal, the King of Strathclyde. They fought against the English at the Battle of Brunanburh but were defeated. In 943, Constantine gave up his throne and went to a monastery in St Andrews. He died there in 952. His nephew, Malcolm I, became the next king.

Constantine ruled for 43 years, which was a very long time for a Scottish king. Only King William the Lion ruled longer before Scotland and England joined under one crown in 1603. His reign was important for making Pictland more "Gaelic." He also supported Irish monks called the Céli Dé, which helped spread Irish customs. During his time, the words "Scots" and "Scotland" were first used to describe parts of what is now Scotland. Many important church and government systems that lasted for centuries also began during his reign.

Early Kings and the Rise of Alba

Recorded relationships within the early House of Alpin

Before the Viking Age, the main kingdom in eastern Scotland was Fortriu. This was a Pictish kingdom near the Moray Firth. By the 9th century, the Gaels of Dál Riata were under the rule of Fortriu's kings. These kings belonged to the family of Constantín of the Picts.

However, in 839, Viking armies defeated Fortriu. Many important leaders were killed, including the king of Fortriu and the king of Dál Riata. This led to a time of trouble. Around 848, Kenneth MacAlpin became the most powerful ruler.

Later stories said that Kenneth MacAlpin created the kingdom of Scotland in 843. But history shows that Kenneth was a Pictish king, and he was called "king of the Picts" when he died. The same title was used for his brother, Donald I, and his sons, Constantine I and Áed.

The kingdom ruled by Kenneth's family was south of Fortriu. It was centered around the River Tay. This kingdom stretched from the Firth of Forth in the south to the Mounth mountains in the north. Important church centers like Dunkeld and St Andrews were in this area.

Constantine II's father, Áed, became king in 876 but was killed in 878. Constantine II was born no later than 879. After Áed's death, there's a gap in the records until Donald II died in 900. Donald II was Constantine's cousin. Donald II was known for being fierce and fought many wars with Viking kings. He was probably killed fighting Vikings in 900. Constantine II then became king.

Vikings and Church Leaders

The Breccbennach or Monymusk Reliquary was believed to hold relics of Saint Columba. It was carried into battle for good luck.

One of the first events recorded during Constantine's reign was a Viking attack. In his third year as king, Vikings plundered Dunkeld and "all Albania." This is the first time the word "Albania" (the Latin form of the Old Irish Alba) is used in the records for Scotland. Before this, the kingdom was called Pictavia.

These Vikings might have been some of those who were forced out of Dublin in 902. The records say that many Northmen were killed in 904 by the men of Fortriu. This included Ímar, a grandson of a famous Viking leader.

Another important event happened in 906. Constantine and Bishop Cellach met at the Hill of Belief near Scone. They promised to protect the laws and rights of the church. This meeting was very important for the future of the kingdom. It showed a strong link between the king and the church. It also helped make the eastern lands more Gaelic. Some believe it was a ceremony to support Constantine's rule.

The Return of the Vikings

After the meeting at Scone, not much happened for about ten years. Then, more Viking fleets appeared in the Irish Sea from 914 onwards. Two Viking leaders, Sihtric Cáech and Ragnall, who were also grandsons of Ímar, were very active in Ireland. Sihtric took back Dublin in 917. The next year, Ragnall came to Britain to become king in York.

In 918, Queen Æthelflæd, who ruled Mercia in England, died. She had been trying to get the Northumbrians to accept her rule. Her death changed things, and her brother, Edward the Elder, became king of all her lands.

Dere Street, an old Roman road, near Corbridge.

In northern Northumbria, Ealdred ruled. When Ragnall invaded, Ealdred asked Constantine for help. Constantine and Ealdred marched south to face Ragnall. They fought a battle near the River Tyne, probably at Corbridge. The battle was not a clear win for either side. However, the Scottish records say Constantine won.

After this battle, Ragnall didn't have much time to rest. King Edward of England was expanding his power north. In 920 or 921, Edward met with Ragnall and other kings. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says these kings "chose Edward as father and lord." Constantine, Ealdred, and Owain, the King of Strathclyde, were among them. This is the first time the word "scottas" (from which "Scots" comes) was used to describe the people of Constantine's kingdom.

Edward died in 924. His son, Æthelstan, became king of all his lands in 925.

King Æthelstan and His Power

By 926, Sihtric, the Viking leader, seemed to accept Æthelstan as his overlord. He became a Christian and married Æthelstan's sister. But he soon gave up his new faith and his wife. Before Æthelstan could react, Sihtric died in 927. His kinsman, Gofraid, tried to take power in York but failed. Æthelstan quickly took control of much of Northumbria. In a short time, England became the most powerful kingdom in Britain.

Some records suggest that Constantine, Owain, and the Welsh kings were against Æthelstan. It's said that Gofraid and Sihtric's young son, Olaf, fled north and found safety with Constantine. This led to war with Æthelstan. In 927, Constantine, Owain, and the Welsh kings met with Æthelstan. They agreed not to ally with the Viking kings. William of Malmesbury, a historian, says that Æthelstan became the godfather to Constantine's son, Indulf, at this meeting.

For the next seven years, there are no records of major events in the north. The Welsh kings attended Æthelstan's court, but Constantine and Owain did not. It's not clear why Æthelstan marched north against Constantine in 934.

Æthelstan's invasion in 934 was brief. His army gathered in England and marched north. He was joined by many leaders, including the Welsh kings. The army went as far north as Dunnottar and Fortriu, while his fleet raided Caithness. It's unlikely that Constantine ruled this far north, so the attacks were probably aimed at his allies.

Some records say that the Scottish men forced Æthelstan to leave without a big victory. Others say the English faced no resistance. A peace deal might have been made. One record says Constantine's son was given as a hostage to Æthelstan. Constantine himself went south with the English king. He signed a document with Æthelstan in 934, where he was called a "sub-king," meaning he accepted Æthelstan's overlordship. However, there's no other record that Constantine ever saw himself as under Æthelstan's rule. The next year, Constantine was again at Æthelstan's court, signing another document as the first of several kings.

The Battle of Brunanburh

After 935, there's no more news of Constantine until 937. In that year, Constantine, along with Owain and Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin, invaded England. This battle became known as "the Great Battle." The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes it as a huge victory for the English. It says that the "hoary" (old) Constantine, who was about 60 years old, lost a son in the battle. The Scottish records confirm this, naming his son as Cellach. The exact location of the battle is still debated, but Bromborough is a popular guess.

Even though Brunanburh was a famous and bloody battle, it didn't solve everything. On October 27, 939, Æthelstan died. His brother, Edmund, became king. Æthelstan's kingdom, which seemed safe after Brunanburh, quickly fell apart. Olaf returned from Ireland and took control of Northumbria. Edmund spent the rest of Constantine's reign trying to rebuild his kingdom.

For Constantine's last years as king, there are only a few records. The death of Æthelstan is mentioned. Also, the death of Dubacan, a leader from Angus, is recorded in 938. This is the first time the title "mormaer" (a type of Scottish ruler) is linked to a specific area.

Constantine's Retirement and Legacy

By the early 940s, Constantine was an old man, in his late sixties or seventies. The kingdom of Alba was new, and there wasn't a clear rule for who would become king next. But usually, an adult from Kenneth MacAlpin's family would take the throne. Constantine's son, Indulf, was probably too young to be king. So, the clear heir was Constantine's nephew, Malcolm I. Malcolm was born no later than 901, so he was no longer young and might have been eager to rule.

In 943, Constantine gave up his throne and went to a monastery. He left the kingdom to Malcolm. Some stories say he didn't want to retire, but others say he was a very religious king. The monastery he went to was probably St Andrews. This monastery had been rebuilt during his reign and given to the Céli Dé (Culdee) movement, a group of reforming monks. These Céli Dé monks later managed many monasteries in Alba.

Constantine died in 952. His son Indulf later became king after Malcolm died. Constantine's great-grandson, Constantine III, was the last of his direct descendants to be king of Alba. Another son died at Brunanburh, and one of his daughters married a Viking king named Amlaíb.

The kingdom that developed during Constantine's reign continued in a similar way for two centuries. His changes to the church and his political actions helped create a new kind of Scottish kingship that lasted long after he was gone.

Family

The name of Constantine's wife is not known. However, he had at least three children:

• Ildulb mac Causantín (also known as Indulf or Indulph) (died 962), who was king of Alba from 954–962.
• Cellach, who died in 937 at the Battle of Brunanburh.
• A daughter, whose name is not recorded, who married Amlaíb mac Gofraid.

Images for kids

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  The moot hill at Scone, perhaps the Hill of Belief of 906.

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  Some locations in northern Britain, late 9th and early 10th centuries.

See also

In Spanish: Constantino II de Escocia para niños